Integrating Chronic Pain into Mental Health Treatment: Evidence-Based Strategies and Language for Holistic Care

Description

Chronic pain doesn’t just live in the body—it affects identity, mental health, and relationships. Clinicians who ignore the emotional toll of pain risk missing the core of their clients’ suffering.

Clients living with chronic pain need more than medication or distraction—they need to be seen, heard, and supported through integrative strategies that address both mind and body. This course offers a path toward compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers both you and your clients.

Victoriya Reich, LCDCIII, LISW-S, is a seasoned clinical social worker and chemical dependency counselor with direct experience supporting injured workers dealing with chronic pain. She combines her expertise in clinical supervision, behavioral health, and substance use treatment to equip clinicians with practical tools for treating the full scope of chronic pain's impact.

Victoriya’s teaching style blends clinical knowledge with deeply human insight. Grounded in empathy, her approach empowers clinicians to respond more effectively to complex presentations by using language and techniques that foster client connection and long-term healing.

This course explores the physical and psychological impact of chronic pain, reviews traditional treatments and their limitations, and presents effective interventions using CBT-CP (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). Additional topics include cultural humility in care delivery, professional wellness, and the implications for collaborative, interdisciplinary treatment. Through client case examples and practical language tools, the course centers on holistic strategies that validate and uplift clients.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrated understanding of pain: Gain a deep appreciation for the interplay between physical symptoms and psychological distress.

• Concrete clinical interventions: Learn specific CBT, ACT, and MBSR strategies tailored for chronic pain.

• Culturally competent and sustainable care: Explore inclusive practices that enhance client outcomes and reduce clinician burnout.

Why This Course?

• Evidence-based and experiential: Taught by a clinician who’s been in the trenches and understands what works.

• Mission-driven organization: Telehealth Certification Institute is trusted by thousands of professionals for high-quality CE focused on practical impact.

• Immediate relevance: You’ll leave this course with techniques and language you can use in your next client session.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the integrative approach to chronic pain that combines physical and psychological perspectives.

• Master specific chronic pain language to enhance communication and validate clients' experiences.

• Apply evidence-based interventions such as CBT-CP, ACT, and MBSR tailored for chronic pain management.

• Develop cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in treating clients from diverse backgrounds.

• Promote self-care and professional development to prevent burnout and maintain high-quality care.

Chronic pain treatment is more than symptom management—it’s about restoring meaning, identity, and connection. Join us in expanding your clinical toolkit with approaches that meet clients where they are, with empathy, skill, and confidence.

Enroll today to begin integrating whole-person strategies into your practice.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Victoriya Reich, LCDCIII, LISW-S

Victoriya Reich is a clinical social worker and chemical dependency counselor who provides comprehensive therapy and case management for individuals, couples, families, and companies to improve personal and profession development. After spending nearly a decade working in the field of social work, Victoriya knows what truly drives conversions and impacts meaningful change in people’s lives - and it’s not just about giving advice or reciting paragraphs from books. It is how well you connect with the people you are trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. Victoriya strives to create individual goals and plans for each person, promoting empowerment and self-efficacy. Victoriya teaches at Cleveland State University and provides social work supervision. Victoriya holds a BA in Psychology, MA in Criminal Justice and MSW in Social Work from the University of Toledo.

Victoriya has worked her way through various facets of social work, having been employed in community-based settings with adults and youth, facilitated the creation of a youth drug and alcohol program in a residential setting, implemented and expanded an outpatient mental health program for seniors and most recently provided specialized treatment for injured workers struggling with chronic pain.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals: 

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement